Apparatus for laying or forming tire-treads



H. I. MORRIS. APPARATUS ma LAYING 0R FoRMaNG TIRE TRE/ws.

APPLICA-TIGR FILED JULY 17. 1917. 28

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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M57 BY A TTORNE Y v H. I. MORRIS. APPARATUS FOR LAYNG 0R FORMING TIRETREADS.

APPLCATION FILED JULY I7. i917. 1,353,933. y

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3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- I INVENTOR. WITNESSES.- livplfwrrls, @D BY r "Luwf ATTORNE Y l Patented sepnzs, 1920' H'. I. MORRIS. APPARATUS FOR LAYING 0RFORMING TIRE TREADS.

APPLICATION FILED IULY I7. I9I7. 28

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IN V EN TOR. r 17o wa/IjW-o Pres! A BY/f ATTOR EY UNITED STAT-Es PATENTOFFICE.

EDWARD I. MonRIs, or nos ANGELES, cALrronNIA, AssIeNoR., RY Dinner AND,

MEsNr. 1ASSIGNMENTS, To MORRIS TIRE MACHINERY coMPANY,A couronn- TION 0FCALIFORNIA.

APPARATUSFOR LAYIN G OR FORMING TIRE-ITREADS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

Application inea Iuiy 17, 1917. serial No. 181,080.

To all -wzom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD I. MORRIS, a

Angeles, in the county of State of California, have invented a new anduseful Apparatus for Laying or Forming Tire-Treads, of which thefollowlng is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for laying or making' laminatedrubber tire treads for vehicle tires, andi particularly for vpneumaticor automobile tires.

The primary object of the invention is to reduce to a minimum theformation or accumulation of airpockets-in the tread; l

A further object of the invention is to take the rubber directly fromthecalender withi out the necessity of rolling the rubber sheets inrolls while, if desired, with this apparatus rubber stock .can be usedfrom rolls.

A further object of the. invention is to build up such tread while thestrips or sheets of rubber still remain heated. c

A further object of the invention is to provide a much quicker and moreexpeditious and economical method and apparatus for making such treads,and one which produces a much superior tread as it permits the rollingofthe rubber into thin sheets in the calender and then into the tread,rolling down each ply of rubber separately, thus preventing air beingtrapped between the lies. p Further objects of the invention will beapparent from the hereinafter contained description.

Theinvention consists in the hereinafter described apparatus andcombinations of parts which will be readily understood by reference tothe accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification whichshow an apparatus forming a preferred embodiment of my invention, theessential elements of which are recited in the appended claims and inwhich- Figure 1 is a side elevation of such ap-` paratus.

2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the means for s Angeles and v Fig. 5 is aside elevation of the cutter knife and its connection tol an automaticmeaiis for operating the same.'-

1 the piston cylinder and its operating mechamsm. i

As yshown in the drawings, ,2 represents a frame in which the calenderrolls 3 are g. 6 is a longitudinal sectional'view of.

mounted, 4 indicatingl the usual means by which the ressure of the rollsmay be regu lated at w1 l. These calender rolls are heated in the usualor any approved manner and receive the mass of rubber through theusualor any approved feeding means 5.

I prefer to drive these rolls so that they turn in the directionsindicated by the arrows .in the drawings and the sheet of rubber isconducted through between the lower and second roll over around the backof that roll through between the central roll and the top roll and upover the top roll and on to a carrier beltd 6. y As ber passes aroundthe central roll it is cut into the desired strips by the usual knives`passes around the up-y y The carrier belt 6 the sheet of rub#percalender roll and over around a positioning roll 8. Preferably on theframe 2 of the calender an idler 9 is provided over which runs the underleg of the carrier 6.

10 represents an endless conveyer or carrier which is preferably mountedu on suitable sheavs 11 carried by a suitablld framework 12 so arrangedthat this carrier 10 is positioned parallel to the longitudinalextension of the roll 8 and extends at an angle to the horizontal.Suitably spaced along this frame 12 are adjustable pressure rolls 13,.there being one pair of such pressure rolls for each ply or strip of'rubber or lamination to be used in making up the tread. v I

Above these rolls and suitably ositioned to direct the strips of rubberto t e respective rolls and position them thereon are fingers 14, therebein a painof fingers for each' pair of rolls. hese fingers arepreferably carried upon rods 15 mounted in suitable extensions -of thebrackets carrying the pressure rollsi13. They may be adjustably mountedon such rods by conventional vset screws (not shown).

Preferably a pair of pressure `rolls 13 are mounted on the frame 12 soas to press the laminated tread after alll of the plies or sheets l vi l-the com lleted tread'a final pressing i gi' kliigeading. f5

- a suitable post or frame 17 a stationary connected to an operatingpiston 24. This blade or shear 18, arranged transverse to the travel ofthe tread, and a pivoted shear or blade 19. It is obvious vvthat thisshear 19 may be of any preferred constructlon and mounted and operatedin any! desired manner.' I have indicated it in the drawings'asconsisting of a removable blade mounted on anrarm 20 pivoted at one endon a iiange or extension 21 of the frame. These details of constructionare not material to my 1n-` vention as such may be of various designs.As shown, the pivoted blade 19 is suitably piston is mounted inthechamber 23 of a cylinder 22. A valve 25 1s operatively mounted in thechamber 28 of the cylinder,

which chamber 28 is connected with Ithe main chamber -23 by the ducts orpassages 26, 27. The chamber 28 is provided at one end with a port 29 towhich is connected a three-way valve 30 to which a branch 31 of thel'luid or air line is connected to supply fluid or air under pressure tooperate the valve 25 in one direction.c The main supply of air ispreferably furnished to the Valvechamber 28 through a port 32 and`connection 32 at the center of the chamber and between the inner headsof the valve 25. Mechanism for operating the valve 25 may consist oflevers or arms 34, 35. The arm 34 is preferably connected to aspring-actuated rod 36 carrying a collar or block 37 held in positionthereon by the usualset screw so that its position on the rod 36 may bead justed as desired. Mounted on the suitably supported rod or shaft 38below the rod 36 is a collar or bracket 39 which is longitudinallyadjustable on the shaft 38. 40 represents a block pivoted on the collaror bracket 39 and in turn provided at its top with a dog or linger 41pivoted thereto and normally'held in its raised position by the usualspring means (not shown). The block 40 is also provided .with an arm 42extending downward toward the surface of the conveyer-16. This arm ispreferably adjustably mounted on the block 40 in the usual or anypreferred manner, so that it may be adjusted toward or away from thesurface of the carrier 16. Fluid under pressure is admitted tochamber 28by actionof spring actuated rod 36 pulling on arm 34 thereby openingvalve-3-0Atopressure lpipe 31s.A i The pressure then forces valve 25 up.To the end of the 'lever' 35 is pivoted an arm 43 .carrying anadjustable collar 44. An arm 45 carried by the piston rod 46'and havingpreferably a/forked end 47 embraces the arm 43 so as tov contact with`the collar 44 when the piston 24 is reaching its extreme downwardmovement, thus causing the valve 30 'to be opened to exhaust' thepressure iuid from' the chamber 28 below the lower head 48 of ythevalve25 at\the instant vto the top of the arm 20 and in the yokeconnectionpiece 50 on the end of the rod 46, so as to compensate for the slightlateral movement of the shear.

The upper calender roll lis preferably power driven and the roll 8 isdriven therefrom by the carrier or belt 6. On the end of the roll 8 isprovided a sprocket 51 from which a sprocket chain .52 passes over andaround-a sprocket 53 mounted upon a short shaft suitably journaled inthe frame. This short shaft carries a pinion 54 which meshes with apinion 55 upon the shaft of the lower pressure roll 13. This shaft is inturn provided with a sprocket 56 and the shaft o-f the front -roller ofthe carrier 16 provided with a sprocket 56 about which a sprocket chainruns to drive these two rolls in unison, and the sprocket 57 is mountedbeing suitably supported by the carrier 6 and thence down in betweentheir respective pressure rolls 13. Preferably the carrier 10 isinclined upward so that each of the succeeding laminations or la. ers ofrubber which are of progressive y diminishing width extend from therolls 8 to the carrier 10 vshorter distances, thus minimizing the weightof such strips so pendent from the rolls 8 and minimizing. the tendencythereof to stretch.

With this apparatus the strips of rubber are delivered between theirvrespective pres.- sure rolls 13 while still hot. The lower pair ofrolls 13 receives the widest or base or foundation strip or laminationof the tre-ad passing through these rolls.v Sufficient prestread stripbetween such arm and the shear- Vto a minimum. The strips or laminationsy are directed intoposition by `Afterthe last lamination or vapplied thecompleted tread the fingers 14.

is preferably subjected` to the pressure of a pressure rolls 13 and fromthere the strip passes ofi" the carrier l0 onto the carrier 16. The arm42 is set so that thev length of the ingmeans will give the desiredlength to form the tread of thev desired tire. When the tread strip onthe carrier 16 contacts with this arm 42, the pressure of the treadstrip thereagainst trips the dog or finger 41 out of its engagement withthe collar 37.

Therod 36 is then actuated by its spring to move the lever 34 and valve30 to permit the entrance of air or liquid under pressure into thechamber 28below the outside head of the valve 25. This'valvle is therebyactuated from its position as shown in Fig. 5 to its upper positioncutting-off communication through the port 27 and opening communicationinto the chamber 22 above the piston 24 through .the port 26.` Thepiston is then forced down actuating the shearing means to cut the treadstrip in -this measured ilength` Upon the pistonC 24 approaching thelower limit of its movement, the arm 45 contacts with the collar44'thereby pulling down the leverV 35 and closing the valve 30 fromcommunication with the branch air supply line 31 and opening the exhaustduct thereof. The fiuid orair in the chamber 28 below the -lower head ofthe valve 25 passes out Athrough this exhaust 58. At the same time-thepiston 24 having reached its lower limit will have uncovered the openingof duct 59 thereby permitting some of the pressure fiuid in the cylinderabove the piston to pass into the chamber 28 above the valve 25, thusforcing the valve downward to original position and insuring instantreturn of the piston to its upper position.

It will be understood that as the valve 25 moves up or down connectingthe inlet `32 with the upper or lower cylinder ports 26 between whichlsaid strip lhas been sure rolls between pair of final second conveyertravels, and means for feeding saidl strips of rubber from said firstconveyer to the surface of the second conveyer and between one pressureroll of each pair and the conveyer.

2. In combinatripn, means for rolling a mass o cutting the same intostrips o-f predetermined widths, a traveling belt conveyer onto whichsaid strips( are delivered, a second traveling conveyer,-aseries ofpairs of preswhich said second conveyer travels, land means for feedingone of said strips of heated rubber from the first conveyer to vthesurface of the second conveyer and between the rolls and the conveyer,ditionall stripl to the tread as it passes on said first set of pressuresecond conveyer'between a second Apair of pressure rolls.

3. In combination, a traveling belt conveyer, a series of pairs ofpressure rolls between which said\ conveyer travels, means for feedingstrips of rubber toward the surl,

face of said conveyerand between one roll ofl each pair and saidconveyer, and automatlc means at the end of said conveyer for cuttingthetread into predeterminedv lengths.

4. In combination, a traveling belt conveyer, a series of pairs ofpressure rolls between which said conveyertravels, means for feedingstrips of rubber toward the surface of said conveyer and between oneroll of each pair and said conveyer, an endless conveyer arranged at theend of said traveling conveyer to receive the tread therefrom', andmeans for automat'cally cutting the tread into predetermined lengths asde-A livered on said endless carrier. 5. In combination, calender rollssuitably heated, means for cutting the sheet of rubber produced therebyinto strips, a traveling conveyer, rolls between which'said conveyertravels, means for feeding said strips respectively to successivepressure rolls, and automatically operated means for cutting the treadfrom said rolls into predetermined lengths.

6. In combination with suitably heated calender rolls for rolling arubber sheet, means for cutting the sheet of rubber produced therebyinto strips of predetermined widths, a traveling belt conveyer ontowhich said strips are delivered, a positioning roll over which saidconveyer travels, a second traveling conveyer, a series of pressurerolls between which said second conveyer travels,

and means for feeding said strips of rubber from said first namedconveyer to the surface of the second conveyer said second conveyerpasses between successive pairs of pressure rolls.

In combination with suitably heated calender rolls for rolling a rubbersheet,

t`ed rubber into a thin sheet andA and feeding an ada series ofpairs ofpressure y progressively as means for cutting the sheet of rubberproduced thereby into strips of predetermlned widths, a travelin beltconveyer onto which said strips are de iv'ered, a positioning roll overwhich said conveyer travels, a second traveling conveyer arranged at anangle to the axis of said positioning roll, a serles of pressure rollsbetween which said second conveyer travels, and means for feedm saidstrips of rubber from said rst name conveyer tothe surface of the secondconveyer progressively as said second conveyer passes betweensuccessivepairs of pressure rolls. v

8. In a tread making machine, a positioning roll, a traveling conveyer,pressure rolls between which said conveyor travels, said conveyertraveling at an'angle to the axis of said positioning roll.

9. In a machine for lmaking laminated tire treads, a positioning means,means forv feeding a series of rubber strips of diiferent widths to saidmeans, and means for plying said strips successively onto each other,the relation of said positioning means `and plying means being such thatthe relative amount of stretch of the respective strips is maintainedthe same.

10. In a machine for making laminated tire treads, means for positioningand feeding a series of heated rubber strips of different widths, andmeans for plying said strips successively onto each other, saidpositioning and feeding means and said plying means being so arrangedwith respect to each other that the length of the strips therebetweensubstantially inversely correspends to the tendency of the respectivestrips to stretch while moving from said first namedto said second namedmeans.

laminated 11. In a machine for'making tire treads, means for positioningaseries of heated rubber strips ofdiferent widths,

means for plying said strips successively onto each other, the distancebetween pro- .gressive respective portions of said po'sitioning andplying means varying correspondingly to the widths of said strips.

12. In a tread making machine, the combination of a calender, means forcuttin rubber sheets into strips, a positioning rol an endless beltconveyer to. carry said strips of rubber from calender to thepositioning roll, pressure rolls and means for synchronizing the speedof the ressure rolls with that of the calender` 'rolls l l 13. Inlcombination, suitably heated calend'er rolls, meansfor cutting the sheetof' HOWARD I. MORRIS.

Witnesses: i

LEONARD S. LYON, L. BELLE WEAVER.

